Brooder



Sept. 5, 1939. J. o. CARSON 2,171,521

BROODER Filed Feb. 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l c5 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sepia. 5, 193%. J, o, CARSON BROODER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT f INVENTOR. Jain/0, ['HKSOM '7 Filed Feb. 15, 1938 P 5, 1939. I J. o CARSON 2,171,521

BROODER Filed Feb. 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

J05EPH C'fiKJO/K BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

'' brooder designed to cause heated and well humidified air to circulate freely and downwardly throughout the brooding chamber whereby to promote the health and growth of the chicks, ithaving been found that well humidified and downwardly directed air has a tendency to promote and stimulate growth of the chicks feathers and also tends to retard pulmonary diseases by preventing germ laden dust fromrising in the chamber.

The invention has for a further object to provide a brooder of the character stated having a perforated floor to permit filth, litter and the like to freely pass therethrough, whereby to maintain the interior of the brooder in a clean sanitary condition, and thus further promote the health of the chicks.

The invention has for a further object to provide a brooder having a hood or canopy so constructed as to create a downward circulation of heated and humidified air; and said hood is so located as to permit the chicks to freely leave or reenter the brooding "chamber. Also means are provided to automatically maintain a substantially uniform temperature therein by permitting an excess amount of heated air to escape when the temperature increases beyond a predetermined degree.

The invention further contemplates the construction of a brooder which will not unduly heat the room in which it is located, and in general it is intended to provide an apparatus of this character which is of simple construction, readily assembled and disassembled, compactly put up for transportation and storage purposes, easy and inexpensive to maintain, not requiring any special skill or attention to keep in operation and which may be manufactured at appreciably low cost.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brooder with top cover and front door removed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus with canopy or hood removed.

Figure 3 a vertical sectional view of the brooder showing base, water pan, draft box and valve, together with means for operating same.

Figure 4 a horizontal sectional view through the heater with parts shown in elevation, and;

Figure 5 shows the top portion of the heater.

Referring to the construction in further detail wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different figures shown, the brooder comprises a platform or base formed of a plurality of sections 5, preferably as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which in assembled relation provide substantially a square design. Each of said parts is constructed of a metal sheet laid upon a sluitable framework or support 6 whereby the platform is spaced an appreciable distance above the ground or floor surface (Fig. 3), and the marginal edges I of the several sections provide a completely closed barrier around the brooder structure as shown. With this arrangement the needed air space is provided'and the ground or floor area within the platform is thereby kept free of foreign matter to the end of sanitation and from the viewpoint of general cleanliness.

A screen-like structure 8, preferably of polygonal design forms the central portion of the platform forsubstantially the greater portion of its surface, and'in the formation thereof each section 5 is partly overlaid with a screen, suitably reinforcedbeneath, and so arranged that when the several sections 5 are assembled the adjacent edges of the screen parts will meet on appreciably flush lines so that the several screen portions will form a continuous and uniform platform throughout.

A metal framework comprising a ring or annular part 9 with uprights I0 is located within an opening II centrally of the platform (Fig. 2) and provides a supporting structure for the stove or heater I2. A drum I3 surrounds the heater, and over all is the canopy or hood structure I4, having a lid or closure piece I5 after the manner shown in Figure 3. Said hood I4 is spaced appreciably from the heater or stove I2 providing an annular air space I6 and and access thereto is afforded by a door I! mounted to slide vertically as indicated. The heater I2 is supported by three or more cross bars I8, on the uprights It of the central framework, and said heater is located to provide sufficient clearance for the water pan l9 that rests upon the ground or floor.

The heater or stove I2 is designed preferably for burning fuel briquets that are piled on the grate having a centrally raised portion appreciably above the bottom 2| of the heater to form an ash pit accessible through the door 22 (Figs. 2 and 4). The stove has an ordinary closure lid 23 and adjacent thereto is the flue or outlet pipe 24. Suitable bracing elements 25 steady and securely hold, the heater I2 centrally of the framework 9-) (Fig. 2).

Th requisite temperature condition is maintained through the medium of a thermostat control 26, mounted on arm 21, that is secured to drum I3 and a lever 28 connected to valve 29, by chain 30, operates to regulate the periods and durations or downward air drafts passing through valve opening 3| as will be understood. An. adjustment 32 serves for setting the thermo-lever 28.

The canopy or surrounding hood portion l4 comprises a plurality of assembled segmental sections having their lower edges 33 locatedyappreciably above and alined with marginal edges 34 of the several screen sections thereby providing an open and annular clearance around the brood ing chamber to the end that the brooding chick-" ens may freely pass thereunder. The upper edge ring member 9. cover piece l5 effectively closes the top opening as shown. Thus the downwardly and outwardly sloping sides of the overlying hood l4 together with the grated or screen portion 8 cause currents of humidified air to flow downwardly or towards the base, thence inwardly, and upwardly about the drum and heater.

It will therefore be seen that with the present disclosure'drafts of heated air are caused tobe deflected downwardly against the bodies of the chicks with the advantages therefor already mentioned, and such downward drafts are spread outward or diffused for an appreciable range whence they pass through the annular opening 35 or open space surrounding the brooder, Also 'the lower marginal edge of the hood I4 is spaced at such distances from the platform 5 as to give a clear opening for the brooding chicks to freely pass into and out of the brooding chamber as desired. It will be further observed that through the medium of these down drafts together with the grate or screen-like flooring within the brooder chamber all foreign matter will neces-.

sarily pass through said screen and collect within the bounds of the. brooder platform thereby aiding in general sanitation and likewise contributing to a general atttractive appearance of the assembly.

It will be understood the invention as herein disclosed is not limited to the details of constructions shown and described, since these may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A brooder of the character described comprising a base portion provided with a central opening, a frame structure setting upright within said opening, a drum fitting around said frame structure and resting on the base portion, a heater, located centrally of the drum and providing therewith an annular air space, a waterpin beneath the heater, and an overlying hood for the whole mounted on said central frame structure, substantially as set forth.

2. A brooder of the character described comprising a base portion, a screen section within said base portion and having a central opening, an upright frame located within said central opening, said frame being provided with cross bars slightly above the level of said base portion, a drum closely fitting around said frame structure and resting on the base portion, a heater mounted on the cross bars of said upright frame and located centrally of the drum to provide therewith an annular air space, a water-pan beneath the heater supporting frame, and a. hood overlying said screen section and having its lower marginal edge slightly above and in alinement with the outer marginal edge of the screen section, substantially as set forth.

3. A brooder of the character described comprising a base portion, a polygonal shaped screen section within said base portion and having a central opening, an upright frame located within said central opening, a drum closely fitting around said frame structure and resting on the screen section of said base portion, a heater located in said upright frame and centrally of the drum to provide therewith an annular air space, a water-pan beneath the heater supporting frame, and an overlying hood for the whole mounted on said upright frame, said hood comprising sections corresponding with the respective portions of the polygonal sided screen section, substantially as set forth,

JOSEPH O. CARSON. 

